Councilman: Safety committee lacks diversity

Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11:15 p.m.

Gadsden Councilman Deverick Williams on Tuesday criticized the makeup of Etowah County’s task force on school and courthouse security issues, saying it has a lack of minority representation.

Williams, one of three minority members of the City Council, during council comments said he wanted to “challenge” those who named and comprise the task force, noting it has no minorities or women. He said addressing the school safety issue is important, but took issue with the committee’s makeup.

He thanked Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, who also has named a committee to look at school safety issues, for choosing a “diverse” panel.

“He was able to capture a lot of key decision-makers as well as the diverse nature of our community,” Williams said. “The county missed that opportunity, I think.”

“The committee itself has not been formed and named in its entirety as far as who is going to participate,” Millican said.

Millican said the existing county courthouse security committee — which included himself, District Attorney Jimmie Harp, Sheriff Todd Entrekin and Commissioner Jeff Overstreet — met earlier this month with Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Ed Miller, Attalla City Schools Superintendent David Bowman and Etowah County Board of Education member Tim Langdale. Committee members decided principals, police chiefs, members of parent/teacher organizations, security officials at Gadsden State Community College, state education officials and others should be contacted for input and asked to serve on the task force.

That meeting came after county officials met in executive session to discuss school and courthouse security issues and announced the formation of a county task force to look at those issues.

“You can’t have enough people to care about a child,” Millican said. “The bottom line is going to be how much this costs and how we are going to pay for it.”

A press release from Sheriff Todd Entrekin after the county task force meeting said members plan to complete a safety evaluation and present a plan of action to the Etowah County Commission and Etowah County’s legislative delegation. The release said the priorities established include conducting a risk assessment and a cost estimate that meets associated needs.

The task force will meet Jan. 22. Millican said members are to report on who will participate and what information they will be able to gather.

<p>Gadsden Councilman Deverick Williams on Tuesday criticized the makeup of Etowah County's task force on school and courthouse security issues, saying it has a lack of minority representation.</p><p>Williams, one of three minority members of the City Council, during council comments said he wanted to “challenge” those who named and comprise the task force, noting it has no minorities or women. He said addressing the school safety issue is important, but took issue with the committee's makeup.</p><p>He thanked Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, who also has named a committee to look at school safety issues, for choosing a “diverse” panel.</p><p>“He was able to capture a lot of key decision-makers as well as the diverse nature of our community,” Williams said. “The county missed that opportunity, I think.”</p><p>Presiding Circuit Judge Allen Millican, a county task force member, declined to comment specifically on Williams' statement, saying, “I don't want to distract from the problem at hand.” </p><p>However, he said more committee members will be named.</p><p>“The committee itself has not been formed and named in its entirety as far as who is going to participate,” Millican said.</p><p>Millican said the existing county courthouse security committee — which included himself, District Attorney Jimmie Harp, Sheriff Todd Entrekin and Commissioner Jeff Overstreet — met earlier this month with Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Ed Miller, Attalla City Schools Superintendent David Bowman and Etowah County Board of Education member Tim Langdale. Committee members decided principals, police chiefs, members of parent/teacher organizations, security officials at <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/section/TOPIC0201/"><b>Gadsden State</b></a> Community College, state education officials and others should be contacted for input and asked to serve on the task force.</p><p>That meeting came after county officials met in executive session to discuss school and courthouse security issues and announced the formation of a county task force to look at those issues.</p><p>“You can't have enough people to care about a child,” Millican said. “The bottom line is going to be how much this costs and how we are going to pay for it.”</p><p>A press release from Sheriff Todd Entrekin after the county task force meeting said members plan to complete a safety evaluation and present a plan of action to the <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/etowahcommisssion"><b>Etowah County Commission</b></a> and Etowah County's legislative delegation. The release said the priorities established include conducting a risk assessment and a cost estimate that meets associated needs.</p><p>The task force will meet Jan. 22. Millican said members are to report on who will participate and what information they will be able to gather.</p><p>Ford's committee will meet Friday.</p>